JP5899802B2 - Image recording device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus and an irradiation unit maintenance method.

  Some image recording apparatuses (hereinafter referred to as printers) use ultraviolet curable ink (hereinafter referred to as UV ink) that cures when irradiated with ultraviolet rays. Among such printers, a printer that moves the transmission member relative to the wiper in order to remove foreign substances from the ultraviolet transmission member provided at the irradiation port of the ultraviolet irradiation unit has been proposed (for example, patents). Reference 1). By removing the foreign matter from the ultraviolet irradiation unit, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the irradiation amount from the ultraviolet irradiation unit.

JP 2011-126151 A

However, when the UV ink adheres to the transmissive member, the UV ink attached to the transmissive member is cured by the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation unit. Then, the UV ink attached to the transmissive member cannot be removed simply by moving the transmissive member relative to the wiper.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to remove the electromagnetic wave curable ink (UV ink) attached to the filter (transmission member) of the irradiation section.

A main invention for solving the above problems is a nozzle that discharges an electromagnetic wave curable ink that is cured when an electromagnetic wave is irradiated onto a recording medium, and an irradiation unit that irradiates the electromagnetic wave, and transmits the electromagnetic wave. An image recording apparatus comprising: an irradiation unit having a filter to be provided on an irradiation surface; and a maintenance unit of the irradiation unit that deforms the shape of the filter. It is.
Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

1 is an overall configuration block diagram of a printer. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the periphery of a head that ejects ink. It is a figure explaining the ink mist adhering to the main irradiation part of a comparative example. 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating a method of Example 1 for removing UV ink attached to a filter, and FIG. 4C is a diagram illustrating a state in which a new portion of the filter is provided on the irradiation surface. FIG. 5A to FIG. 5C are diagrams for explaining the method of the second embodiment for removing the UV ink attached to the filter. 6A to 6C are diagrams for explaining a modification of the second embodiment.

=== Summary of disclosure ===
At least the following will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

That is, an irradiation surface for irradiating the electromagnetic wave with a nozzle that discharges an electromagnetic wave curable ink that is cured when the electromagnetic wave is irradiated, and a filter that transmits the electromagnetic wave, are provided on the irradiation surface. An image recording apparatus comprising: an irradiation unit; and a maintenance unit for the irradiation unit that deforms a shape of the filter.
According to such an image recording apparatus, the electromagnetic wave curable ink can be easily peeled off from the filter, and the electromagnetic wave curable ink attached to the filter can be removed.

In the image recording apparatus, the maintenance unit may be configured such that, after the shape of the filter is deformed, the wiper member that moves relative to the filter in a state of being in contact with the surface of the filter on the recording medium side, Remove foreign matter adhering to the surface of the filter.
According to such an image recording apparatus, the electromagnetic wave curable ink attached to the filter can be removed.

In this image recording apparatus, the maintenance unit extends the filter in a surface direction.
According to such an image recording apparatus, the electromagnetic wave curable ink can be easily peeled off from the filter.

In this image recording apparatus, the maintenance unit moves the contact member in contact with the surface of the filter opposite to the recording medium side with respect to the filter, thereby moving the filter. Bend.
According to such an image recording apparatus, the electromagnetic wave curable ink can be easily peeled off from the filter.

In this image recording apparatus, the contact member is a roller that rolls in contact with the opposite surface of the filter.
According to such an image recording apparatus, the contact member can be easily moved with respect to the filter.

In this image recording apparatus, the maintenance unit abuts another abutting member on a portion of the surface of the filter on the recording medium side in the vicinity of a portion where the abutting member abuts on the filter. To bend the filter.
According to such an image recording apparatus, the angle at which the filter bends can be made steep, and the electromagnetic wave curable ink can be more easily removed from the filter.

In this image recording apparatus, the maintenance unit provides a new portion of the filter on the irradiation surface by moving a filter continuous in a predetermined direction in the predetermined direction with respect to the irradiation surface of the irradiation unit. about.
According to such an image recording apparatus, the shape of the filter can be deformed, and the electromagnetic wave curable ink can be easily peeled off from the filter.

The maintenance method of the irradiation part by this maintenance part.
According to such an irradiation part maintenance method, the electromagnetic wave curable ink can be easily peeled off from the filter, and the electromagnetic wave curable ink attached to the filter can be removed.

=== Printing system ===
An embodiment will be described by taking an example of a printing system in which an image recording apparatus is an ink jet printer (hereinafter referred to as a printer) and a printer and a computer are connected.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the overall configuration of the printer 1, and FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the periphery of a head 41 that ejects ink. In FIG. 2, the arrangement of nozzles viewed from above the head 41 is virtually shown.
The printer 1 of the present embodiment prints an image on a recording medium S (for example, paper, cloth, film, etc.) using an ultraviolet curable ink (electromagnetic wave curable ink) that is cured by irradiation with ultraviolet rays (electromagnetic waves) ( Record. The ultraviolet curable ink (hereinafter referred to as UV ink) is an ink containing an ultraviolet curable resin, and is cured when a photopolymerization reaction occurs in the ultraviolet curable resin when irradiated with ultraviolet rays.

The computer 80 is communicably connected to the printer 1 and outputs print data for causing the printer 1 to print an image to the printer 1.
The controller 10 is a control unit for controlling the printer 1. The interface unit 11 is for transmitting and receiving data between the computer 80 and the printer 1. The CPU 12 is an arithmetic processing unit for controlling the entire printer 1. The memory 13 is for securing an area for storing a program of the CPU 12, a work area, and the like. The CPU 12 controls each unit by the unit control circuit 14. The detector group 70 monitors the situation in the printer 1, and the controller 10 controls each unit based on the detection result.

The transport unit 20 is for feeding a recording medium S (hereinafter referred to as a medium) to a printable position and transporting the medium S by a predetermined transport amount in the transport direction during printing.
The carriage unit 30 is for moving the head 41 and the provisional irradiation units 51a and 51b mounted on the carriage 31 in a movement direction that intersects the conveyance direction.

  The head unit 40 is for ejecting UV ink onto the medium S, and has a head 41. On the lower surface of the head 41, as shown in FIG. 2, a nozzle row Y for discharging yellow ink, a nozzle row M for discharging magenta ink, a nozzle row C for discharging cyan ink, and a nozzle for discharging black ink A column K is provided. In each nozzle row, a plurality of nozzles (# 1 to # 180) that eject ink are arranged at predetermined intervals in the transport direction. The ink discharge method from the nozzle may be a piezo method in which ink is discharged from the nozzle by expanding and contracting the ink chamber by applying a voltage to the drive element (piezo element), or using a heating element in the nozzle. A thermal method in which bubbles are generated and ink is ejected from the nozzles by the bubbles may be used.

  The irradiation unit 50 is for irradiating the UV ink on the medium S with ultraviolet rays to cure the UV ink, and includes provisional irradiation units 51 a and 51 b and a main irradiation unit 52. The irradiation surface of each irradiation unit is provided with a cover glass and a filter that transmit ultraviolet rays, and each irradiation unit irradiates the UV ink on the medium S with ultraviolet rays through the cover glass and the filter. The filter is positioned closer to the medium side (outside) than the cover glass, and the filter is in close contact with the cover glass. Examples of the ultraviolet irradiation source include a light emitting diode (LED), a metal halide lamp, a mercury lamp, and the like. In this embodiment, a light emitting diode (LED) is used.

The provisional irradiation units 51 a and 51 b are provided at both ends in the moving direction of the carriage 31 with the head 41 interposed therebetween, and move in the moving direction together with the head 41 as the carriage 31 moves. When the carriage 31 moves to the left in the movement direction, the provisional irradiation unit 51a on the right side of the head 41 emits ultraviolet rays, and when the carriage 31 moves to the right of the movement direction, the provisional irradiation unit 51b on the left side of the head 41 moves. Irradiate ultraviolet rays. Therefore, as soon as the UV ink ejected from the head 41 lands on the medium S, it is cured by the provisional irradiation portions 51a and 51b, and bleeding and color mixing due to the flow of the UV ink can be suppressed. However, the provisional irradiation units 51a and 51b have a lower ultraviolet irradiation intensity (mW / cm ² ) per unit area than the main irradiation unit 52, and temporarily cure the UV ink to such an extent that the UV ink is not completely cured. .

  The main irradiation unit 52 is fixedly arranged downstream of the head 41 in the transport direction, and the length of the main irradiation unit 52 in the moving direction is equal to or longer than the length of the maximum size medium S in the moving direction. Therefore, the main irradiating unit 52 irradiates the UV ink on the medium S passing thereunder with an ultraviolet ray that is so strong that the UV ink is completely cured.

  The maintenance unit 60 (corresponding to the maintenance unit of the irradiation unit) is for removing foreign matters (UV ink, dust, paper dust, etc.) adhering to the filters of the temporary irradiation units 51a and 51b and the main irradiation unit 52 ( Details will be described later).

  In the printer 1 having such a configuration, a recording operation in which the head 41 ejects UV ink while the carriage 31 moves in the moving direction of the head 41 and the provisional irradiation units 51 a and 51 b, and the transport unit 20 with respect to the head 41. The transport operation for transporting the medium S downstream in the transport direction is alternately repeated. Therefore, a two-dimensional image is printed on the medium S. The UV ink on the medium S is temporarily cured by the provisional irradiation units 51a and 51b during the recording operation, and is completely cured by the main irradiation unit 52 during the conveyance operation.

=== Problem of ink mist ===
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating ink mist adhering to the main irradiation unit 52 of the comparative example. The main irradiation unit 52 of the comparative example is not provided with a filter, and is provided only with a cover glass 521 that covers and protects the LED. Note that the LED cover member is not limited to glass, but may be any member that transmits ultraviolet light, and may be, for example, a transparent resin.

  Ink mist (fine ink droplets) generated when ink is ejected from the nozzles does not land on the medium S and floats around the head 41. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, ink mist adheres to the cover glass 521 of the main irradiation unit 52 located in the vicinity of the head 41. Although not shown in the drawing, ink mist also adheres to the cover glasses of the provisional irradiation portions 51a and 51b. If the ink mist adhering to the cover glass 521 is left unattended, the ink mist is accumulated, and the deposited UV ink hinders ultraviolet irradiation from the LED. If it does so, the irradiation amount (irradiation intensity) of the ultraviolet-ray irradiated to the UV ink on the medium S will fall, a blur or color mixture will arise in an image, or the image in which uncured UV ink remained will be output, and printed matter The quality of the will deteriorate.

  Further, the UV ink attached to the cover glass 521 is cured by the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the LEDs, and it becomes difficult to remove the UV ink from the cover glass 521. Then, simply rubbing the surface of the cover glass 521 with the wiper member cannot remove the UV ink from the cover glass 521, and the UV ink remains on the cover glass 521.

=== Example 1 ===
4A and 4B are diagrams for explaining the method of the first embodiment for removing the UV ink attached to the filter F. FIG. As described above, the filter F is in close contact with the lower surface of the cover glass 521 in the provisional irradiation units 51 a and 51 b and the main irradiation unit 52 of the present embodiment. Therefore, ink mist adheres to the lower surface (surface / medium side surface) of the filter F, not the cover glass 521. Therefore, the maintenance unit 60 removes foreign matters such as ink mist adhering to the filter F. In addition, since the foreign substance removal method (maintenance method) from the filter F is the same in the provisional irradiation units 51a and 51b and the main irradiation unit 52, the main irradiation unit 52 will be described below as an example.

  The filter F of Example 1 is a material that transmits ultraviolet rays, and is formed of a stretchable material (a material that can be elastically deformed). The filter F extends long in a predetermined direction (continues in the predetermined direction) and is wound up in a roll shape. Here, the direction in which the filter F extends is the moving direction of the head 41, and the width direction of the filter F is the transport direction of the medium S. The length in the width direction of the filter F is set to be equal to or longer than the length in the transport direction of the cover glass 521 so that the filter F can cover the entire lower surface of the cover glass 521.

  The maintenance unit 60 according to the first embodiment includes a delivery roller 61, a take-up roller 62, a wiper member 63, and a moving mechanism 64. The delivery roller 61 and the take-up roller 62 are for moving the filter F in the movement direction. The wiper member 63 can be brought into contact with the lower surface of the filter F, and is a plate-like member formed of an elastically deformable material such as rubber or felt. The moving mechanism 64 is for moving the wiper member 63 in the moving direction.

Hereinafter, a method for removing foreign matter from the filter F will be described.
The controller 10 of the printer 1 issues a command to remove foreign matter such as UV ink from the filter F of the main irradiation unit 52 at a predetermined timing (for example, at the end of a print job or every elapse of a predetermined time). Output to.

  Then, the maintenance unit 60 first extends the filter F positioned on the irradiation surface (the lower surface of the cover glass 521) of the main irradiation unit 52 in the surface direction. Here, as shown in FIG. 4A, the filter F is stretched in the moving direction by the feed roller 61 and the take-up roller 62. Specifically, the delivery roller 61 on the left side in the moving direction rotates clockwise to pull the filter F to the left side, and the winding roller 62 on the right side in the moving direction rotates counterclockwise to pull the filter F to the right side. That is, the maintenance unit 60 rotates the feed roller 61 and the take-up roller 62 in the opposite directions to extend the filter F in the moving direction.

  However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, one of the feed roller 61 and the take-up roller 62 may fix the position of the filter F and the other may pull the filter F. Further, the filter F may be extended in the transport direction of the medium S, or the filter F may be extended in a plurality of directions.

  Thus, when the filter F was extended in the surface direction, a phenomenon that the UV ink adhering to the filter F was easily peeled was obtained. This is presumably because the UV ink adhering to the filter F weakens because the UV ink adhering to the filter F weakens while the filter F, which is a stretchable material, extends in the surface direction.

  In this way, the maintenance unit 60 extends the filter F in the moving direction so that the UV ink can be easily removed from the filter F, and then the upper end of the wiper member 63 is brought into contact with the lower surface of the filter F as shown in FIG. In the state, the wiper member 63 is moved in the moving direction. The wiper member 63 is moved from the left end to the right end in the moving direction of the irradiation surface by the moving mechanism 64. Then, foreign matter such as UV ink adhered to the lower surface of the filter F is removed without being left behind by the wiper member 63, and the filter F located on the irradiation surface can be cleaned.

  The length of the wiper member 63 in the conveying direction is equal to or greater than the width of the filter F, and the wiper member 63 is moved once in the moving direction by the moving mechanism 64, so that the wiper member 63 is a filter positioned on the irradiation surface. It should be in contact with the entire area of F. Further, when the wiper member 63 removes foreign matters from the filter F, the state where the feed roller 61 and the take-up roller 62 extend the filter F in the moving direction may be maintained, or the filter F is returned to the original state. You may do it.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, the maintenance unit 60 extends the filter F provided on each irradiation surface of the main irradiation unit 52 and the temporary irradiation units 51a and 51b in the surface direction (here, in the moving direction). Stretching) and deforming the shape of the filter F. Then, after extending the filter F in the surface direction, the maintenance unit 60 causes the filter F to move by the wiper member 63 that moves in the moving direction with respect to the filter F while being in contact with the lower surface of the filter F (surface on the medium side). Foreign matter such as UV ink adhering to the lower surface of the ink is removed.

  By doing so, the wiper member 63 can remove foreign matter such as UV ink from the filter F in a state where the UV ink is easily peeled off from the filter F, and the UV ink attached to the filter F is surely not left behind. Can be removed. Therefore, the UV ink attached to the filter F does not hinder the ultraviolet irradiation from the LED, and the UV ink on the medium S can be reliably cured, so that the quality of the printed image can be prevented from being deteriorated.

  In addition, after the wiper member 63 removes foreign matter from the filter F, a cleaning agent or a liquid repellent may be applied to the lower surface of the filter F. By doing so, the UV ink can be more easily removed from the filter F.

  FIG. 4C is a diagram illustrating a state where a new part of the filter F is provided on the irradiation surface. When the number of times the filter F is extended in the surface direction increases, the stretchability of the filter F deteriorates, and the filter F extends completely. As a result, the filter F cannot be extended, and the UV ink cannot be easily removed from the filter F. Moreover, the adhesiveness of the filter F with respect to the cover glass 521 may deteriorate, and the medium S passing under the filter F may come into contact with the filter F.

  Therefore, the controller 10 outputs a command to change the part of the filter F located on the irradiation surface to the maintenance unit 60 at a predetermined timing (for example, when the number of times the foreign matter is removed from the filter F reaches a predetermined number). Then, the maintenance unit 60 moves the filter F continuous in the movement direction (corresponding to a predetermined direction) in the movement direction with respect to the irradiation surface of the irradiation unit (main irradiation unit 52, provisional irradiation units 51a and 51b). A new part of the filter F is provided on the irradiation surface.

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4C, the maintenance unit 60 rotates the delivery roller 61 counterclockwise to feed the unused filter F portion to the irradiation surface (the lower surface of the cover glass 521), and winds it. The take-up roller 62 is rotated counterclockwise to wind up the filter F located on the irradiation surface in a roll shape. That is, the maintenance unit 60 rotates the delivery roller 61 and the take-up roller 62 in the same direction, and moves the filter F to the right in the movement direction.

  By doing so, the site | part of the new filter F which is not yet located in the irradiation surface, ie, the site | part of the filter F which has not yet been extended in the surface direction, can be provided in an irradiation surface. Therefore, before the wiper member 63 removes foreign matter from the filter F, the filter F can be stretched in the surface direction (the shape of the filter F can be changed), and the UV ink adhering to the filter F can be filtered. It can be easily peeled off from F. Therefore, the UV ink can be reliably removed from the filter F. Further, the contact between the filter F and the medium S can be prevented.

  In the first embodiment, the delivery roller 61 and the take-up roller 62 have both a function of extending the filter F in the surface direction and a function of providing a new part of the filter F on the irradiation surface. Therefore, the apparatus configuration can be simplified in the first embodiment as compared with the case where the two functions are performed by different mechanisms.

=== Example 2 ===
FIGS. 5A to 5C are diagrams for explaining the method of the second embodiment for removing the UV ink attached to the filter F. FIGS. In the second embodiment, a case where foreign matter is removed from the filter F of the main irradiation unit 52 will be described as an example.

  The filter F of Example 2 is a material that transmits ultraviolet rays, is formed of a flexible material, and can cover the entire irradiation surface (the lower surface of the cover glass 521). Moreover, in Example 2, as shown in FIG. 5, the edge part of the filter F is being fixed to the both sides | surfaces in the moving direction of this irradiation part 52. As shown in FIG. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a roll-shaped filter F is used as in the first embodiment (FIG. 4C), and a new portion of the filter F is provided on the irradiation surface by the feed roller 61 and the take-up roller 62 at a predetermined timing. You may do it.

  The maintenance unit 60 according to the second embodiment includes a rotating roller 65, a wiper member 63, and a moving mechanism 64. The rotating roller 65 rolls in the moving direction (advances while rotating) while being in contact with the back surface of the filter F (the surface on the LED side opposite to the medium S side). The length of the rotating roller 65 in the transport direction is equal to or greater than the width of the filter F (length in the transport direction). When the rotating roller 65 rolls from the left end to the right end of the main irradiation unit 52, the rotating roller 65 Abuts the entire area of the back surface. In the figure, a mechanism for rolling the rotating roller 65 in the moving direction is omitted.

Hereinafter, a method for removing foreign matter from the filter F will be described.
During printing or the like, the rotating roller 65 is positioned between the side surface (left side surface in the drawing) and the filter F in the moving direction of the main irradiation unit 52 as shown in FIG. 5A. When the maintenance unit 60 receives a command to remove foreign matter from the filter F from the controller 10, the maintenance unit 60 rolls the rotating roller 65 in the moving direction.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, the rotating roller 65 passes through the lower surface of the cover glass 521 from the left side surface of the main irradiating unit 52 while being in contact with the back surface (LED side surface) of the filter F. Roll to the right side of the direction of travel to the right side of Thereafter, the rotating roller 65 is positioned between the right side surface of the main irradiation unit 52 and the filter F, and then rolls in the reverse direction (left side in the moving direction) when removing foreign matter from the filter F.

  When the rotating roller 65 rolls in contact with the back surface of the filter F (the surface on which the UV ink is not attached), a part of the filter F is on the lower side (the side on which the UV ink is attached). Protruding. In other words, the filter F that is flat along the lower surface of the cover glass 521 is bent in a direction away from the UV ink from a portion that contacts the rotating roller 65 to a portion that does not contact. That is, since the filter F bends in the direction in which the UV ink attached to the filter F is peeled off, the adhesion of the UV ink to the filter F is weakened, and the UV ink is easily peeled off from the filter F.

  In this way, the maintenance unit 60 rolls the rotating roller 65 on the back surface of the filter F so that the UV ink can be easily peeled off from the filter F, and then moves the wiper member 63 in the moving direction with the wiper member 63 in contact with the lower surface of the filter F. . Then, foreign matter such as UV ink adhered to the lower surface of the filter F is removed without being left behind by the wiper member 63, and the filter F located on the irradiation surface can be cleaned.

  As described above, in Example 2, the maintenance unit 60 has the back surface (the surface opposite to the medium side) of the filter F provided on the irradiation surface of the irradiation unit (the main irradiation unit 52 and the provisional irradiation units 51a and 51b). ) Is moved with respect to the filter F, and the filter F is bent (the shape of the filter F is deformed). Thereafter, the maintenance unit 60 removes foreign matters such as UV ink attached to the lower surface of the filter F by moving the wiper member 63 in contact with the lower surface of the filter F in the moving direction.

  By doing so, the wiper member 63 can remove foreign matter such as UV ink from the filter F in a state where the UV ink is easily peeled off from the filter F, and the UV ink attached to the filter F is surely not left behind. Can be removed.

  Further, in FIG. 5, a member for bending the filter F (corresponding to a contact member) is a rotating roller 65 (corresponding to a roller) that rolls while being in contact with the back surface of the filter F. Therefore, the member (rotating roller 65) that bends the filter F can be easily moved with respect to the filter F.

  Further, after the rotation roller 65 has finished moving on the back surface of the filter F, the wiper member 63 is not limited to removing foreign matter from the filter F, but as shown in FIG. 5C, the rotation roller 65 and the wiper member 63 are moved at the same timing. It may be moved in the moving direction. However, the rotating roller 65 is moved before the wiper member 63.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5C, the wiper member 63 may be brought into contact with a portion of the filter F (that is, a portion where the filter F is bent) in the vicinity of the portion with which the rotating roller 65 comes into contact. By doing so, the wiper member 63 is easily caught on the end portion of the UV ink peeled off from the filter F, and the wiper member 63 becomes easier to remove the UV ink from the filter F.

  6A to 6C are diagrams for describing a modification of the second embodiment. In FIG. 5, the rotating roller 65 is rolled on the back surface of the filter F. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIG. 6A, a plate-like member 66 (corresponding to a contact member) having a curved tip is used as the filter F. You may make it move to a moving direction in the state contact | abutted on the back surface. Also in this case, the filter F can be bent in the direction in which the UV ink is peeled off from the filter F, and the UV ink can be easily peeled off from the filter F. Further, for example, the filter F may be bent by a member whose cross section cut in the moving direction is a triangle or a quadrangle.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6B, another plate-like member 67 is brought into contact with the surface of the filter F in the vicinity of the portion where the plate-like member 66 comes into contact with the back surface of the filter F so that the filter F is bent. It may be. That is, another plate-like member 67 (corresponding to another abutting member) is disposed in the vicinity of the portion of the filter F where the plate-like member 66 (corresponding to the abutting member) on the back side of the surface of the filter F contacts. And the filter F is bent. The vertical position (height) of the front end (lower end) of the plate-like member 66 on the back surface side and the front end (upper end) of the plate-like member 67 on the front side are overlapped. Further, as shown in FIG. 6C, the plate-like members 66 and 67 may be inclined with respect to the vertical direction (direction perpendicular to the surface of the cover glass 521).

  By doing so, the angle at which the filter F bends can be reduced (the angle can be made abrupt). More specifically, the angle formed by the part of the filter F with which the tip of the plate-like member 66 abuts and the part of the filter F along the side surface of the plate-like member 66 on the back side of the filter F can be reduced. Accordingly, the UV ink can be more easily peeled off from the filter F.

  In FIG. 6B and FIG. 6C, the plate member 67 on the front surface side is moved ahead of the plate member 66 on the back surface side. You may make it move ahead of the plate-shaped member 67 of the side.

=== Modification ===
In the above-described embodiment, the cover glass 521 is provided in the irradiation section (the main irradiation section 52, the provisional irradiation sections 51a and 51b), and the filter F is provided outside the cover glass 521 (medium S side). For example, only the filter F may be provided without providing the cover glass 521 in the irradiation unit.

  In the above-described embodiment, the wiper member 63 is moved with respect to the filter F. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the filter F (irradiation unit) may be moved with respect to the wiper member 63.

  In the above-described embodiment, after the shape of the filter F is deformed, the wiper member 63 removes foreign matter from the filter F. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the user may wipe the foreign matter from the filter F with a cloth or the like. It may be. Further, when the UV ink adheres to the filter F and the UV ink is peeled off from the filter F simply by changing the shape of the filter F, the wiper member 63 does not have to remove the foreign matter from the filter F.

=== Other Embodiments ===
Although the above-described embodiment is mainly described with respect to the image recording apparatus, disclosure of a maintenance method of the irradiation unit and the like is also included. The above-described embodiments are for facilitating understanding of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention. The present invention can be changed and improved without departing from the gist thereof, and it is needless to say that the present invention includes equivalents thereof.

<About ink>
In the above-described embodiment, the case where ultraviolet curable ink (UV ink) is used is taken as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can also be applied to the case of using ink that is cured when irradiated with electromagnetic waves such as electron beams, X-rays, and visible rays.

<About the printer>
In the above-described embodiment, the printer 1 is described as an example in which the operation of recording an image while the head 41 moves in the movement direction and the operation of conveying the medium in the conveyance direction are taken as an example. For example, a printer that prints a two-dimensional image on a medium by ejecting ink toward the medium when the medium passes under a fixed head that extends over the width of the medium. Good. Further, for example, with respect to a medium (roll paper or cut paper) conveyed to the printing area, an operation of recording an image while the head moves in the X direction and an operation of the head moving in the Y direction are repeated. Alternatively, a printer may be used that, after printing a two-dimensional image on a medium part in a print area, conveys the medium in the X direction and conveys a new medium part to the print area.

<About the irradiation unit>
In the above-described embodiment, the printer 1 includes both the temporary irradiation units 51a and 51b that move together with the carriage 31 and the main irradiation unit 52 that is located downstream of the head 41 in the transport direction. Any one of the irradiation units may be used.

1 Printer, 10 Controller, 11 Interface section,
12 CPU, 13 memory, 14 unit control circuit,
20 transport unit, 30 carriage unit, 31 carriage,
40 head units, 41 heads, 50 irradiation units,
51a provisional irradiation unit, 51b provisional irradiation unit, 52 irradiation units,
521 cover glass, F filter, 60 maintenance unit,
61 feed roller, 62 take-up roller,
63 wiper member, 64 moving mechanism, 65 rotating roller, 66 plate member,
67 plate members, 70 detector groups, 80 computers,

Claims (6)

A nozzle that discharges an electromagnetic wave curable ink that is cured when irradiated with an electromagnetic wave to a recording medium;
An irradiating unit for irradiating the electromagnetic wave, wherein the irradiating unit is provided with a filter that transmits the electromagnetic wave on an irradiation surface;
A maintenance unit of the irradiation unit that extends and deforms the shape of the filter in a plane direction ;
An image recording apparatus comprising: The image recording apparatus according to claim 1,
The maintenance unit is configured to change the shape of the filter, and then adhere to the surface of the filter by a wiper member that moves relative to the filter in contact with the surface of the filter on the recording medium side. Remove,
Image recording device.   A nozzle that discharges an electromagnetic wave curable ink that is cured when irradiated with an electromagnetic wave to a recording medium;
  An irradiating unit for irradiating the electromagnetic wave, wherein the irradiating unit is provided with a filter that transmits the electromagnetic wave on an irradiation surface;
  A maintenance section of the irradiation section that deforms the shape of the filter;
  With
  The maintenance section bends the filter by moving a contact member in contact with the surface of the filter opposite to the recording medium side with respect to the filter. Recording device. The image recording apparatus according to claim 3 ,
The contact member is a roller that rolls in contact with the opposite surface of the filter.
Image recording device. The image recording apparatus according to claim 3 or 4 , wherein:
The maintenance section bends the filter by bringing another contact member into contact with a portion of the surface of the filter on the recording medium side in the vicinity of the portion where the contact member contacts the filter. Let
Image recording device. The image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein:
The maintenance unit provides a new part of the filter on the irradiation surface by moving a filter continuous in a predetermined direction in the predetermined direction with respect to the irradiation surface of the irradiation unit.
Image recording device.